Economy ???

[Maynard Rupp]

We do need to worry about the radical Islamic factions. 10% of those folks are radical and they make all the rules for the rest. This is just like the 3rd. Reich in Germany. These guys want every human to practice Islam and they won't quit until they either achieve that goal or get sent to heaven. I have been to Baghdad and I can tell you they don't think like we do.

 

[krush]

I just saw a video of a Republican debate and was very impressed with the honesty of Mike Huckabee. Maybe a refreshing change. Mit Romney also sounds good to me. The rest of the candidates from either party sound and act like mainstreem crooks.

It'd be nice if loser Romney would actually ANSWER a question and stop playing sleezball politician.

Ron Paul is my man. You may not agree with all his platform, but at least you know he's honest and TELLS THE TRUTH and doesn't sugar coat. Look at his voting record.....he's called Dr. No for a reason.

I'm 23, and I've earned my own money since before I was 10 (fixing lawnmowers and cutting grass). I'm a mechanic and "blue collar worker" at heart and always will be. I don't worry about me, but the average American my age.

People my age and younger are clueless and suffer from entitlement mentality...nobody has seen hard times. The government needs to protect us, making money and running a business is EVIL (What horseshit, small businesses are what make this country what it is), trade is bad, unions are required, all this crap is what IS WRONG with America.

But I'm just a young (spoiled) punk that doesn't know what a "real work" is.../sarcasm off.

 

[captddis]

INDEPENDANTLY WEALTHY CORPERATE GUY? Wow your just about always wrong but this time your so wrong you have crossed the border into ga ga land. Un like you I don't have a degree in anything I don't even have a high school diploma and I certainly didn't grow up privileged. But I have two things you will never have. The sense to see things as they are and the willingness to do whatever I need to do to get where I want to be. And I'm not at all unique there are millions of people in this country that see it as a place of limitless opportunity and understand that they control they're own destiny. Instead of looking at people living paycheck to paycheck or people that in your words got screwed out of they're jobs and using them as examples of how the little guy can't make it. Why don't you take a look at the millions of little guys that do make it and ask yourself what are they doing that I'm not. On some level I feel bad for you a person that believes that every bump in the road is caused by outside forces that they can't control must feel pretty helpless. A person that excepts responsibility for his own well being enjoys an independence and freedom that those who don't will never know.

Brian[/QUOTE





Exactly right! I am a good example. I always loved boats and engines. I started washing boats at 12 and would do whatever was asked for a few bucks. Went on to oil changes, tune ups etc. At 17 the local yard asked me if I wanted to work for them, I took the job and serviced my customers after work and on weekends. I later moved to FL and worked for a Hatt dealer. I liked the job, then after a management change, I decided that I could work for them for 7.00 a hr and be guarrantied a weekly check, or be my own boss and keep all the profits. I already had a bunch of loyal customers. That was 1985. They dealer is gone but I am still going and stay extremely busy by word of mouth.
Some of the people I worked with are still working for different yards and struggling to get by. And complain about their employer.
If you are motivated and not afraid to venture out and can manage your money you can do well.
I have my Hatt, my classic Chris Craft, my Whaler and live on the water. I OWN it all and do not owe a cent to anyone. Not bad for a dummy who never went to college. But I do work hard! Dave

 

[SeaEric]

I am another example of your "basic loser" with no college degree. I have managed to thrash my way to a very comfortable life with all that goes with that. What was required was nothing more than lots of hard work, long hours, successes, failures, and hard lessons learned. I have enjoyed a lot of what others would call "good luck" that I can tell you I honestly earned. One makes one's own luck- good or bad. The best part is, I truly enjoy my work. Its great to be doing what you like and get paid well for it.

 

[Boatsb]

We do need to worry about the radical Islamic factions. 10% of those folks are radical and they make all the rules for the rest. This is just like the 3rd. Reich in Germany. These guys want every human to practice Islam and they won't quit until they either achieve that goal or get sent to heaven. I have been to Baghdad and I can tell you they don't think like we do.

MOAB!!!!!!!! Islams official travel agent to alla. lets get some out there and fix the problem. Send them all on the "family plan" and we will have no recurrences.

FYI I know many Americans will help with airfare for any "believers" that want to be with their brethren.

 

[Trojan]

I don't begrudge any person that wants to work and make it on there own. But what I am trying to say is there is going to be a drastic financial change in the economy. Its not the country's fault. Every person and family is trying to gain wealth and monetary things. That is natural. That has always been the game. The US has always set the example. But you have to look around further than across town. There is only one bank and one oil company owned by a US company. The auto industry is now split. How many other companies are owned or were purchased by a foreign country. Do you expect to live on a foreign persons wages. I don't think anyone can live in the US on their wages. How many of there own people are driving cars? They can't afford to even buy there own products. I would like to think like the few of you and think everything is going to be Rosy. Its not going to be. There has to be import restrictions to slow this down. They can't just keep flooding the market with there cheap things and killing our quality companies. I also started out working for a boat company then a gas station then college. My children have it better than Me and I have it better than my father. Except he is 93 and plays golf 3 days a week. In the evening after school the kids have 8 computers on line. That's good. But it would not make any difference how hard you work or the type of work. If there is no money to pay you. Sure you can find a job if your talented. But that option will be short lived when nobody has any money. People lived through the depression and the recession. Its my contention that you are going to see another depression. How bad it will be I can't even guess. But until the foreign countries wages equalizes to ours you will, are going to be hard pressed. I would be more than happy to be wrong on this one. But Reagan started the ball rolling and Clinton gave it a mighty push by signing the free trade bill. There can be no free trade until the all the economies are equal or close. Color it, perfume it, anyway you want it still is crap. We US, will bare the blunt of it. How low can we go? Mark My words. You ain't seen nutting yet. Got to go finish laying the blocks for the bunkers and ammo dump.

BILL

 

[Walter P]

At age 70 you might say that I've been around the block a few times. I remember during the late 40's and 50's hearing so much crap about how tough things were. Many returning GI's couldn't get jobs so they went to school under the GI bill and eventually did very well. During the same period other returning GIs complained that the country owed them something. Then the tough times of the 70's and early 80's and so on. The fact of the matter is that at just about any point in time, some folks seem to make out fine while some seem to hit stone walls.

Funny thing about life, it seems that the harder you work, the luckier you get.

While things could always be better, remember they could also be a lot worse. This whole subject borders on the obscene. We all own Hatteras boats for crying out loud, what's to complain about?

Walt

 

[thoward]

Please exeuse the spelling as I am just too lazy to spell check tonight....

Manufacturing has taken a backseat to intelectual property. Manufacturing has also been hit by automation and robots. I think what we traditionally measure the economy with is changing. It is going to take time for us old guys to see that Google, Microsoft, Lantis Laser(cool new technology) is where the money has gone. Things have changed quite a bit in the last 10 years. I graduated college as a chiropractor 10 years ago. The business of medicine has changed so much in that short time. The sands of change are shifting so fast I found it in my best interest to hire a consulting firm for guidance in how to procede in these uncertain times. Sometimes when you are emotionally invested it is hard to see a clear picture. I think the same is true now as our friends and family loose their houses or jobs. It is difficult for many of us to take an objective look at the world around us and what we did, right or wrong, that got us to where we are. I guess it boils down to if you're unhappy with where you are at then you need to change what you are doing or how you are doing it.....

 

[Trojan]

In the 60's and 70's there was a job shortage, but there was no money shortage. Like said if you wanted money you could find work. I want to keep my Hatteras. If you look at the trend. The money is on the down hill slide. Cars in general are not selling. Not many people are buying cars just because they want a new one. Homes are being foreclosed at an all time high. The government is trying to bail them out along with the banks. Banks are not loaning money. Bankruptcy is high and growing. A year ago on this forum I stated the housing market is going to collapse. You all said no it won't the economy is solid. Its just in my area. Well here it is a year later and it's taken a shit in all areas. Why are the investors saying buy gold. Don't invest in the market it's to unstable. I don't play the market but I can easily see the changes. The raising of the oil prices is the only way I can see the government can conceal the the downward economy plunge. It's real easy to blame the fuel prices for the down flow. But, there has been little change in fuel consumption despite the price. I have not changed driving or boating habits. I just pay the price and move on. But, the economy is still going down. Tell me whats going to stop it. I hope I'm wrong. As an engineer I deal in logic answers. If I'm wrong I will buy the beer. I will still have money. One man said If you want to destroy the US. You don't have to use weapons. You do it from within. Keep dumping monies into the war and keep sending our jobs over seas, keep closing our manufacturing plants, steel plants. Keep shipping all our scrap steel ( prices are at an all time high )and rubber supplies over seas and we the people will have nothing left to do anything with. Who's making the money on these deals. The fat cats. Nothing trickles down to the little people. When things get tough just bend down with you head between you legs and kiss your Optimistic ass good by. Guys, I have kinda enjoyed battering ideas and opinions with you all on such a sore subject. But I like talking boats better. I have presented my case and so have you. I hope I loose. but I'm going back to boating and leaving the economy to the WHO. And watch how the card play out. It's getting cold up here I still don't have all the block laid for the bunkers and I'm having a hard time finding the 1 inch steel plate for the sliding windows. The solar panels have arrived and the shrink wrap guy finished wrapping the 3 palettes of ammo, things are shaping up.

BILL

 

[Paul45c]

Protectionism (read that, tariffs), "progressive taxation" to redistribute wealth, and fear of the future will kill this future quicker than getting imports from China or Korea or wherever the hell, IMHO. This country's always stood for innovation and set itself as the standard of the world in that regard; fear and protectionism just hold that all back.

We used to make a lot of textiles in this country -- first in the northeast in the mega mills on the rivers of New England, and that came slamming down in the 30s. It went to the Carolinas. Then they had the same thing done to them with lower prices and less union nonsense by overseas manufacturers. Do you see anyone in Massachusetts and New Hampshire pining for the "good old days" when people lived in those ugly butt old company towns earning crap and probably not even having a family car?

And even if we wanted to, how would we ever get back to being able to support that kind of manufacturing at home? Companies would have to be absolutely ruthless in cutting N. American style costs, and the first thing they'll come after is labor and benefits. Even still, you're going to saddle Americans with higher costs for those goods, and if they know they can get it cheaper by ordering it from overseas and having it delivered here, they will. If the gov't reacts by slapping big tariffs on those goods, people will go around and just smuggle it. Look no further than Prohibition for that example. People will find away to buy cheaper no matter what pointy-headed policies the gov't would try to enact.

There's a better answer...move forward with innovation and higher-yielding business ventures and leave the low cost 3rd world countries have the cheap commodities markets.

 

[garyd]

Bill, Bill, Bill ya just don't get it.

The business owners and the economy were going great guns during the Reagan years and headed for the mountain tops. Then the government said hey lowering taxes actually worked let's never do that again, in fact lets raise taxes on the greedy nasty small business owner. So they did. The difference in my income today vs the Reagan years adjusted for inflation etc is 50%-75% less.

Now being a business guy, when the government took that money away from me and gave it to some poor slob that was hurting because all the rich bastards were dumping on him left less money to pay employees more, hire new ones and grow the company. And ya know they are talking about raising taxes on that greedy small business owner again.

We must lower the tax and insurance burden opn the small business owner to allow him to create jobs and income for everyone. And if that were to happen I'd be able to buy a brand new Hatteras and allow guys like you to swear at me as I drove bye greedy rich bastard (which I'm not). And of course that would hurt the economy correct, and all the people building Hats must also be rich guys oops not. Remember the luxury tax I worked for a boat company had 2,500 employees after the luxury tax they got down to 500. Yep they laid off all the rich folks, oops no they laid off 2000 blue collar workers. Again raising taxes once your taxed until your bleeding from every orifice doesn't work. Taxing and insurancing the small business owner to the hilt is crushing the little guys they are trying to protect. But what would you expect from a political party that supports abortion and 90+% of the abortions are being performed on their own people dah...

How would like to go to a college where you got an A and the poor slob next to you got an E. The professor said to u hey that's not fair you smart little shit so I've taken 50% of your grade and given it to the poor slob so now you both have C's. Well that's exactly the attitude you portray. It flat kills the motivation of both individuals involved. Just like the government is doing to both sides of the ledger. It's got to stop! The first political party that "gets it" gets my vote. I don't care if they are called The Four Tops. LOL

 

[Trojan]

How else would you expect government to support the war and all the free loaders, giveaways and illegals. Raise taxes on the little guy, the working guy. It's nothing new. They don't want you to get ahead. The small business owner is not the fat cat. I'm talking about the megabuck companies and your our congress. Who vote for their own raises. If that ain't the fox guarding the chicken coop. They also retire with there same income. How many here can say that. Do you think they worry about you. Give me a break. I'm not against being rich. I'm still hoping. But fair is fair. No loop holes. A straight tax right across the board. They interviewed a Fat cat company owner last week on TV. He stated that he paid less taxes than his secretary. Answer me this. How can the president have all that oil stock and it not be a conflict of interest? Hay! Being old I'm allowed to be opinionated. And maybe it is just an opinion, but it is justified by years of past history and thought. NO ONE IS LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. People today have to many pacifiers. Damn it's cold up here, But I managed to get on another 2 courses of brick on the bunker.

BILL

 

[SKYCHENEY]

So who are these huge companies that earn such big profits? I want to invest.

BTW, the "fat cat company guy" that was interviewed was investor Warren Buffet. Don't believe anything that that guy says. He is a socialist and doesn't think anyone should be able to keep what they earn. That is why he is giving away his fortune. His tax comments are skewed and if you examine his agruement carefully, you will see that they don't add up.

Also, I see no mention of Bush owning any oil company stock. All presidents divest of such assets or put them into a blind trust to managed by a third party. Here are his assets: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/13/AR2005051301376.html

 

[Brian Degulis]

Oh come on Sky you don't want to muddy the waters with facts do you?

Brian

 

[garyd]

Bill, Bill LOL

Depends on what you define as a small business man. I can tell you of the many that are one to five man compainies that pay very little taxes.

They don't need protection they have justified the cash books vs real books etc..

The hugh companies usually have stock holders and boards and if they want to run their business to maximize profits and pay the upper management hugh dollars that in a sense is their business.

Now try the 2-100 million dollar a year small businessman that gets paid with checks etc. He is the one creating the most jobs and growing the economy. And he's the one you and everyone like you wants to categorize as a rich cat. Every pain in the butt union card tooting blue collar worker wants what he has but will not work for it, no way ,no how.

And I do not have anything against blue collar workers as long as they don't have that screw the so called rich cats ( the very guys that laid everything on the line so they could have a job in the first place) attitude.

Do you consider a 50 million dollar a year business a small business. Where do you make the break. Do you walk up and ask the man Excuse me what were your gross revenues last year? And when he tells you and they are over your high horse plateu you call him a rick cat and walk off LOL.

garyd

 

[BUSTER]

How about THOWARD's 60C for only $309,000? I don't know him or his boat, but it sounds like a great price if it's in good shape.

Doug

Often the price is the bargain,I bet you need some deep pockets to actually use that boat. I ran a 65C with MTU's for a friend one winter,it used 120 gallons an hour. I absolutely loved the boat,especially the engine room,the aft bridge outside controls.But 120 gallon an hour?

 

[BUSTER]

At age 70 you might say that I've been around the block a few times. I remember during the late 40's and 50's hearing so much crap about how tough things were. Many returning GI's couldn't get jobs so they went to school under the GI bill and eventually did very well. During the same period other returning GIs complained that the country owed them something. Then the tough times of the 70's and early 80's and so on. The fact of the matter is that at just about any point in time, some folks seem to make out fine while some seem to hit stone walls.

Funny thing about life, it seems that the harder you work, the luckier you get.

While things could always be better, remember they could also be a lot worse. This whole subject borders on the obscene. We all own Hatteras boats for crying out loud, what's to complain about?

Walt

I like your style Skipper,all of it rings true. Keep pushing ahead and sooner or later,what we want will come our way. I have owned boats nearly all my life,starting with my first one at 10 years old that my grandfather gave me. "Always pay cash for your boat or you can't afford a boat." I'm glad I listened to that old Norwegian.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

"Always pay cash for your boat or you can't afford a boat." I'm glad I listened to that old Norwegian.

Truer words were never spoken. Now if a few more would apply that principal to housing, we wouldn't have this sub-prime mortage problem either.

My rule for debt is to only use it when the asset that you are buying with it will create income in excess of the payment. That's why it's great for business purposes and poor for personal items such as boats, cars, second homes (although real estate can also me an investment in many cases).

 

[krush]

All you guys cussing the politicans and canditates, I agree with you 500%. I'm the youngster and am going to have to deal with the mess (so to say). I want term limits on congress and strait talking politicans.

Ya'll, do me and your kids/grandkids a favor and just spend 2 minutes watching this about Ron Paul. He does NOT participate in the congress pension campaign, he RETURNS money each year from his office back to uncle same, and he wants to get rid of the IRS....the list goes on and on. He is a straight talker and is called "Dr. NO" because he votes no on so many bills (including the origininal PATRIOT act)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8

Just watch it....

 

[thoward]

I think there a few who are misinformed on what and how much the "rich" pay in taxes. They are taxed at close to 40%! According to the National Taxpayers Union, the richest 1 percent (those earning above $364,657 annually) pay 39.38 percent of all federal personal income taxes. The richest 5 percent (those earning at least $145,283 annually) pay 59.67 percent of all federal personal income taxes.

Anyone know how Ginger and I can get that EIC thing where you can get back more tax than you put in? Sounds like a good program to me